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19th December 2016

London Stansted Airport has unveiled plans for a new £130 million arrivals building to significantly improve the passenger experience. The building is the latest phase in the multi-million pound transformation programme by MAG to support future growth at the airport and attract new passengers and airlines.

Stansted is currently the busiest single terminal airport in the UK with up to 5,000 departing passengers alone passing through its doors every hour at peak times. With passenger numbers expected to increase over the next decade, particularly with runway capacity constraints at other London airports, Stansted is submitting a planning application for a new arrivals building designed to deliver new facilities to enhance the overall passenger and airline experience.

The plan focuses on providing the airport with a high quality environment to support its continuing growth, from today’s 24 million passengers a year to the current planning limit of 35 million. The facility is designed to ensure that in the future the airport could make full use of its single runway and serve around 43 million passengers a year, as set out in Stansted’s 2015 Sustainable Development Plan.

The proposed 34,000m2 building spans three levels and would be delivered inside the existing footprint of the airport, and located adjacent to the current terminal and the Radisson Blu Hotel. It will include plans for a larger immigration and baggage reclaim area, new retail facilities and a public forecourt to create a relaxing and welcoming environment for passengers. This facility will enable the current terminal building to be reconfigured and dedicated entirely to departing passengers, creating more space at check-in, security and within the international departures lounge.

The bespoke arrivals building allows the airport to minimise operational disruption during construction and will incorporate the latest sustainable technologies. The design complements the existing terminal’s unique architecture, created by Lord Norman Foster over 25 years ago.

Subject to the relevant planning consents and approvals, it is expected the arrivals building will take up to three years to complete with other improvements to the existing terminal due to be finished by 2022.

Stansted Airport’s CEO, Andrew Cowan, said:

“The planning application and concept design for the new £130 million arrivals building marks the latest phase in Stansted’s transformation and enables us to support further growth over the next decade and give our passengers the facilities that they want.

“Since MAG acquired the airport in early 2013, we have turned Stansted into one of the UK’s fastest growing airports. It has always been our vision to invest in its infrastructure to create the best experience for our growing number of passengers and airline customers and have already invested over £150 million to update our terminal and satellite facilities, created 1,000 more jobs, added over 40 new destinations and increased passenger numbers by nearly seven million.

“Stansted is thriving as a national asset, forming a key component of the UK’s aviation infrastructure at a time when airport capacity in the country is at a premium. Our investment will boost competition and enable the airport to play a bigger role in supporting economic growth, jobs and international connectivity across the East of England and London.

“Subject to planning consent, the next stage will be to develop our concept designs in conjunction with our stakeholders and business partners ahead of awarding any contracts for the construction works.”

London Stansted Airport in numbers:

24 million passengers per annum

Fourth largest airport in the UK

50:50 ratio between UK and non-UK passengers

180+ destinations and 18 airlines

Third biggest cargo hub in the UK – carried 250,000 tonnes in 2016

Most European destinations of any UK airport – 2nd most in Europe behind Munich

11,600 people employed on site across 200+ on airport companies

MAG has spent £150 million improving the terminal facilities since acquisition in 2013